Small businesses have been boosting their profits with the help of an internet auction site.
Companies have begun selling products through FSauctions, the online auctions site from Freeserve, and taking advantage of the fact Freeserve do not charge for listings.
Simon Danciger, managing director of FSauctions, said: "We were happy to waive the listings fee that some online auction channels charges.
"We were keen to encourage both buyers and sellers to use the site and recognised many individuals and businesses found it financially difficult to absorb the additional cost of listings fees."
Bournemouth electrical retailer Rings Electrical said it had increased profits by over 30 per cent since it started using the auction site.
Managing director Dominic Colombo said: "It was a great way of selling end-of-line and ex-display products, which had previously been slow moving and taking up valuable floor space.
"We had a really effective sales channel and we were able to increase our product offer."
He said the process of putting products up for auction had been simple and effective.
FSauctions was established in November 1999. It is available to approximately two million Freeserve members plus the entire online comunity.
It was the second most visited British auction site in July according to research in July by web statistics firm MMXI.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article